U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Progreso International Bridge have apprehended a teenager from Monte Alto, Texas, who was wanted on an outstanding felony warrant for sexual assault of a child. The arrest was made by CBP officers working in collaboration with the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office.
"CBP officers play a vital role in keeping our communities safe. They work diligently to screen all travelers and in the process detect wanted fugitives and bring them to justice,” stated Acting Port Director Jorge Galvan of the Progreso Port of Entry. “This apprehension underlines that commitment as we continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners to successfully make arrests of this caliber.”
The incident took place on Saturday, February 8th, when Lazaro Salazar, 19, a U.S. citizen, was referred for secondary inspection due to an alert generated during primary screening. During this secondary examination, officers used federal law enforcement databases and biometric verification to confirm his identity and discovered he had an outstanding felony arrest warrant issued by the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office. Salazar was subsequently handed over to deputies from the Sheriff's Office for further legal proceedings.
The National Crime Information Center (NCIC) is an automated database designed to facilitate information sharing among law enforcement agencies about outstanding warrants for various offenses. CBP officers have previously arrested individuals through NCIC alerts for crimes including homicide, escape, money laundering, robbery, narcotics distribution, sexual child abuse, fraud, larceny, and military desertion. It is important to note that criminal charges are merely allegations until proven guilty in a court of law.
For updates on news and events related to CBP operations in South Texas or other areas covered by the Laredo Field Office, interested parties can follow their social media accounts.
CBP is recognized as America's frontline agency responsible for border management. With over 65,000 personnel dedicated to protecting America across different terrains and facilitating lawful travel and trade while ensuring national security through various strategic measures.
